On the windswept Northumberland coast stands the Mercer’s House, thought to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who in earlier times died a violent and tragic death at the hands of her husband. Now it holds the key to the mystery of Helen Devereux, who disappeared with her young son twenty-five years ago and was never seen again. In the intervening years the Devereux family have done their best to come to terms with their loss, but their fragile peace is shattered when Zanna Chambers arrives at the Mercer’s House in search of her Aunt Helen, after a promise made to her father.

Zanna is recovering from a battle with her own demons, but her search brings them back more terrifyingly than ever when she starts to receive mysterious communications, seemingly from Helen herself. But are the messages real or imagined? Confused as to her own sanity, and unexpectedly attracted to the Devereux brother who was left behind, Zanna must decide whether to flee back to the safety of her old life, or continue the search for Helen and strike out into the frightening unknown.